Button sewing machine



Oct. 24, 1933. RICH 1,931,830

' BUTTON SEWING MACHINE Filed Jan. 19, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Oct. 24, 1933. c 1,931,830

BUTTON SEWING MACHINE Filed Jan. 19, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 rim [III/III] Patented Oct. 24, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BUTTON SEWING MACHINE I Louis Rich, New York, N. Y. Application January 19, 1933. Serial No. 652,536

12 Claims.

This invention relates to button-sewing machines and has special reference to a button-sewing machine for sewing shank buttons provided with transverse attaching eyes or loops by which to attach the buttons.

One important object of the invention is to provide an improved general construction of attachment for holding buttons in a machine of this character.

A second important object of the invention is to provide a novel button holding device wherein improved means exist for holding buttons of various sizes, the device being readily adjustable to suit the particular size of button being sewn.

A third important object of the invention is to provide an improved button sewing machine wherein novel provision is made for breaking the thread after the button is sewn in place.

' A fourth important object of the invention is to i provide an improved construction of such a device wherein the two parts of the button holder are automatically latched together and wherein such parts move together for a portion of the movement of the device and are then automatically released for independent movement.

With the above andother objects in View as will be hereinafter apparent, the invention consists in general of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter Figure 4 is an enlarged section on the line 4-4.

of Figure 2. I

Figure 5 is an enlarged section on the line 55 of Figure 3.

Figure 6 is an enlarged section on the line 6-6 of Figure 3.

Figure '7 is an enlarged section on the line '7--'? of Figure 3.

Inasmuch as the invention is particularly concerned with the button holding means it is not deemed necessary to describe the body of the machine except for those parts to which the attachment is securedand which directly concern theoperation of the device.

For this purpose there has been here shown a button-sewing machine head 10 having a table 7 11 whereon is mounted a reciprocating bar 12 actuated by suitable mechanism, part of which is shown at 13. A bracket 14 is tiltably supported 5- adjacent the right hand end of this bar and extends over the bar toward the left in spaced relation to said bar. These parts are common in button-sewing machines.

The invention proper includes a hinge plate or leaf 15 fixed to the bar 12 by screws 16. Hinged to the plate 15 is a second hinge plate 17 provided with slots through which pass screws 18 which are screwed into the right end of a base bar 19. A spring 20 is fixed to the leaf 15 by a screw 21 '70" and has inwardly bent ends 22 which overlap the base bar 19; This spring urges the base bar downwardly. A pair of spacedand aligned guide lugs 23 and 24, connected by a bar 25, are fixed on the base bar 19 and a plunger having a larger 7'5 end 26 and a smaller end 27 is mounted to slide with these ends guided by the respective lugs.

A coil spring 28 surrounds the smaller end of the plunger and bears at one end against the shoulder formed at the junction of the larger and smaller so plunger ends. The other end of this spring bears against the lug 24 and thus urges the plunger t0 the left. Mounted on the large end of the plunger is a grooved button holding head 29. The under side of the plunger is provided, in the larger end, 5 with a suitable notch to receive the rear end of a plunger operating lever 30 pivotally secured intermediate its ends to the base bar 19 by a screw 31. The forward end of the lever projects forwardly of the base bar so that it may be conveniently grasped and moved to the left to retract the plunger against the action of its spring.

The base bar 19 is provided with a longitudinal slot 32 extending to the left from beneath the 7 head 29 and this slot has'bevelled side edges 33. Mounted on the base bar 19 is a slide 34 which is movable longitudinally of the bar to cover and uncover the bevel faces 33. This slide spans the slot 32 and has a transversely extending notch 35 in the spanning portion. A slot 36 is provided in the forward portion of the slide and a thumb screw 37 passes through this slot to hold the slide in adjusted position. A lip 38 is turned upon the slide for grasping manually so that the slide may be moved when the thumb-screw is loosened.

A stop plate 39 rests on the bar 19 and is provided at its right hand edge with upturned and spacedstop fingers 40. This stop plate is provided'with slots 41 through whichthe screws 42 pass. Thus, the stop plate may be adjusted toward and from the head 29 and held in adjusted position by the screws 42. A plate 43 is adjustably mounted on the bar 19, for movement longitudinally of the bar, by means of a slot is and screws 45 and this plate is provided with an upwardly offset and bifurcated end 46, the slot of the bifurcation forming a horizontal branch of the vertical slot between the fingers 40.

At 47 is a lug to which is pivoted a spring held latch hook 48 having a bevelled nose 49. Mounted on the table 11 is a bracket 50 having at its upper end an arcuate cam flange 51 which overhangs the nose of the latch hook so that, as the bar 19 is raised at its left end, the nose 19 engages the cam flange and moves the free end of the latch hook into unlatching position as shown by the broken lines in Figure 2.

A top or holding plate 52 is provided at its right end with slots 53 through which pass screws 54 by means of which the plate is adjustably secured to the bracket 14. The left hand end is reduced and slotted as at 55, the slot being positioned above the slot 32. Extending vertically up from the plate 52, at about the center thereof, is a guide 56 provided with a vertical slot 57 wherethrough passes a screw 58 which is screwed into a latch lug or keeper 59 wherewith the latch hook 48 is adapted to engage, the keeper being thus adjustable for height.

A post 60 extends up from the plate 52 and carries an arm 61 to which is connected one end of a lift chain 62, the other end of the chain being connected to a treadle (not shc-wn) in the manner customary with devices of this sort so that downward pressure on the treadle efiects lifting of the plate 52.

In order to make the operation of the device clear a button B is shown as held thereby in posi tion for sewing. With the button in this position the machine is started. This causes the reciprocating bar to reciprocate and thus move the button so that the needle passes alternately through the eye of the shank and outside of the shank, the goods to which the button is being sewn being supported by the part 48. When the button is completely sewn to the fabric the machine is stopped with the needle in raised position. The treadle is now depressed which raises the free end of the plate 52 and this, by the engagement of the keeper 59 with the latch hook 48, causes the free end of the bar 19 to lift thus breaking the bobbin thread. This lifting movement of the bar 19 continues until the engagement of the bill 49 with the cam 51 causes disengagement of the latch hook from the keeper whereupon the bar 19 drops back to normal position. The upward movement of the plate 52 continues until it reaches the upper broken line position of Figure 2, where it is held by the foot on the treadle. The lever 30 is now moved with the right hand to move the head 29 away from the button whereuponthe fabric and sewn button are removed with the left hand and a new button dropped in place. The lever 39 is now released as is the treadle and the parts resume their normal position ready to sew the new but- Where smaller buttons are to be sewn the slide 34 is moved to the left so that the edge of the smaller button rests in the notch 35. Otherwise Zhe operation is the same as with the large buton. r

There has thus been provided a simple and efficient device of the kind described and 19 t purpose specified.

It is obvious that minor changes may be made in the form and construction of the invention without departing from the material spirit thereof. It is not, therefore, desired to confine the invention to the exact form herein shown and described, but it is desired to include all such as properly come within the scope claimed.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, is:

1. In a device of the kind'described, a base bar having a hinge at one end and provided with a needle slot adjacent the other end, means to hold a button edgewise on said bar and transversely thereof, a clamp plate adapted to rest at one end on the upper edge of a button held by said means,

means to lift the button engaging end of the clamp plate, and means releasably connecting the clamp plate and base bar to cause the same to lift together for a portion of the upward movement of said clamp plate.

2. In a device of the kind described, a base bar having a hinge at oneend and provided with a needle slot adjacent the other end, means to hold a button edgewise on said bar and transversely thereof, a clamp plate adapted to rest at one end on the upper edge of a button held by said means, means to lift the button engaging end of the clamp plate, latch means connecting the base bar to the clamp plate to cause the bar to move upward with the plate, and means to effect release of the latch means upon completion of a predetermined movement of the bar.

3. In a device of the kind described, a base bar having a hinge at one end and provided with a needle slot adjacent the other end, means to hold a button edgewise on said bar and transversely thereof, a clamp plate adapted to rest at one end on the upper edge of a button held by said means, means to lift the button engaging end of the clamp plate, a latch hook pivoted to the base bar, a keeper carried by the clamp plate and normally engaged by the latch hook whereby upward movement of the clamp plate effects upward movement of the base bar, and a cam in the path of the latch hook arranged to be engaged by and release the latch hook from the keeper upon apredetermined upward movement of the plate being effected.

i. In a device of the kind described, a base bar having a hinge at one end and provided with a needle slot adjacent the other end, means to hold a button edgewise on said bar and transversely thereof, a clamp plate adapted to rest at one end on the upper edge or" a button held by said means, means to lift the button engaging end of the clamp plate, a latch hook pivoted to the base bar, a vertically adjustable keeper carried by the clamp plate and normally engaged by the latch hook whereby upward movement of the clamp plate effects upward movement of the base bar, a cam in the path of t e latch hook arranged to be engaged by and rel ase the latch hook from the keeper upon a predetermined upward movement of the plate being effectedand means to secure the keeper in vertically adjusted position. g i

5. In a device of the kind described, a base bar having a hinge at one end and a needle slot adj as cent the other end, a button stop having a, pair of spaced vertical fingers providing a shank slot and secured at one end-of the needle slot, a retractable button holding head carried by the base bar and movable toward and from the fingers, a spring urging said head toward said fingers, a clamp plate adapted to rest at one end on a button held between said head and fingers, means to lift the button engaging end of the clamp plate, and means releasably connecting the clamp plate and base bar to cause the same to move together for a portion of the upward movement of said clamp plate.

6. In a device of the kind described, a base bar having a hinge at one end and a needle slot adjacent the other end, a button stop having a pair of spaced vertical fingers providing a shank slot and secured at one end of the needle slot, a retractable button holding head carried by the base bar and movable toward and from the fingers, a spring urging said head toward said fingers, a clampplate adapted to rest at one end on a button held between said head and fingers, means to lift the button engaging end of the clamp plate, latch means connecting the base bar to the clamp plate to cause the bar to move upward with the plate, and means to effect release of the latch means upon completion of a predetermined movement of the bar.

7. In a device of the kind described, a base bar having a hinge at one end and a needle slot adjacent the other end, a button stop having a pair of spaced vertical fingers providing a shank slot and secured at one end of the needle slot, a retractable button holding head carried by the base bar and movable toward and from the fingers, a spring urging said head toward said fingers, a clamp plate adapted to rest at one end on a button held between said head and fingers, means to lift the button engaging end of the clamp plate, a latch hook pivoted to the base bar, a keeper carried by the clamp plate and normally engaged by the latch hook whereby upward movement of the clamp plate effects upward movement of the base bar, and a cam in the path of the latch hook arranged to be engaged by and release the latch hook from the keeper upon a predetermined upward movement of the plate being efiected.

8. In a device of the kind described, a base bar having a hinge at one end and a needle slot adjacent the other end, a button stop having a pair of spaced vertical fingers providing a shank slot and secured at one end of the needle slot, a retractable button holding head carried by the base bar and movable toward and from the fingers. a spring urging said head toward said fingers, a clamp plate adapted to rest at one end on a button held between said head and fingers, means to lift the button engaging end or" the clamp plate, a latch hook pivoted to the base bar, a vertically adjustable keeper carried by the clamp plate and normally engaged by the latch hook whereby upward movement of the clamp plate efiects upward movement of the base bar, a cam in the path of the latch hook arranged to be engaged by and release the latch hook from the keeper upon a predetermined upward movement of the plate being effected, and means to secure the keeper in vertically adjusted position.

9. In a device of the kind described, a base bar having a hinge at one end and a needle slot adjacent the other end, a button stop having a pair of spaced vertical fingers providing a shank slot and secured at one end or" the needleslot, a retractable button holding head carried by the base bar and movable toward and from the fingers, a spring urging said head toward said fingers, a clamp plate adapted to rest at one end on a button held between said head and fingers, a slide mounted on said base bar to move toward and from said fingers and forming a bottom rest when adjacent the fingers, means to lift the button engaging end of the clamp plate, and means releasably connecting the clamp plate and base bar to cause the same to move together for a portion of the upward movement of said clamp plate.

10. In a device of the kind described, a base bar having a hinge at one end and a needle slot adjacent the other end, a button stop having a pair of spaced vertical fingers providing a shank slot and secured at one end of the needle slot, a retractable button holding head carried by the base bar and movable toward and from the fingers, a spring urging said head toward said fingers, a clamp plate adapted to rest at one end on a button held between said head and fingers, a slide mounted on said base bar'to move toward and from said fingers and forming a button rest when adjacent the fingers, means to lift the button engaging end of the clamp plate, latch means connecting the base bar to the clamp plate to cause the bar to move upward with the plate, and means to efiect release of the latch means upon completion of a predetermined movement of the bar.

11. In a device of the kind described, a base bar having a hinge at one end and a needle slot adjacent the other end, a button stop having a pair of spaced vertical fingers providing a shank slot and secured at one end of the needle slot, a retractable button holding head carried by the base bar and movable toward said fingers, a clamp plate adapted to rest at one end on a button held between said head and fingers, a slide mounted on said base bar to move toward and from said fingers and forming a button rest when adjacent the fingers, means-to lift the button engaging end of the clamp. plate, a latch hook pivoted to the base bar, a keeper carried by the clamp plate and normally engaged by the latch hook whereby up ward movement of the clamp plate effects upward movement of the base bar, and a cam in the path of the latch hook arranged to be engaged by and release the latch hook from the keeper upon a predetermined upward movement of the plate being effected.

12. In a device of the kind described, a base bar having a hinge at one end and a needle slot adjacent the other end, a button stop having a pair of spaced vertical fingers providing a shank slot and secured at one end ofthe needle slot, a retractable button holding head carried by the basebar and movable toward and from the fingers, a spring urging said head toward said fingers, a clamp plate adapted to rest atone end on a button held between said head and fingers, a slide mounted on said base bar to move toward and from said fingers and forming a button rest when adjacent the fingers, means to lift the button engaging end of the clamp plate, a latch hook pivoted to the base bar, a vertically adjustable keeper carried by'the clamp plate and normally engaged by the latch hook whereby upward movement of the clamp plate effects upward movement of the base bar, a cam in the'path of the latch hook arranged to be engaged by and release the latch hook from the keeper upon a predetermined I upward movement of the plate being effected, and

means to secure thekeeper in vertically adjusted 1A5 position. 1

LOUIS RICH. 

